Fastener tape with concealable fastener elements



L. ROSEMAN Dec. 4, 1962 FASTENER TAPE WITH CONCEALABLE FASTENER ELEMENTSFiled April 5, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet l irl-Ill ATTORNEY Dec. 4, 1962 l..Rosl-:MAN 3,066,310

FASTENER TAPE WITH CONCEALABLE FASTENER ELEMENTS Filed April 5, 1960 5Sheets-Sheet 2 1N VEN TOR Zan 'owgm BY M l 2 ATTORlkIEirV Dec- 4, 1962l.. Rosi-:MAN 3,066,310

FASTENER TAPE WITH CONCEALABLE F'ASTENER ELEMENTS Filed April 5. 1960 5Sheets-Sheetl 3 INVENTQR Z210 Fasefgm ATTORNEY f arent .bl Patented Dec.4l,A 1962 ice 3,066,310 FASTENER TAPE WITH CQNCEALARLE FASTENER ELEMENTSLeo Roseman, 16 Johnson Ave., Newark 2, NJ. Filed Apr. 5, 196i), Ser.No. 20,175 2 Claims. (Cl. 2-265) This invention relates to fastener tapeof the general type that includes a strip of fabric having a pluralityof superposed plies, layers, or portions between which fastener elementssuch as wire eyelets are secured by stitches. The fastener elementsusually are formed of wire and have base parts, such as loops, andengaging parts, such as eyes, and the base parts of the fastenerelements are secured between the superposed plies or portions, forexample, between a body portion and another portion that may serve as acover strip for the fastener elements.

The fastener tape having wire eye fastener elements is adapted to coactwith a tape having hook elements to separably interlock with the eyeelements thereby providing a complete fastener, and fasteners of thisnature frequently are used as garment closures. In one particularapplication or use of such fasteners, for example, in a brassiereclosure, the eye fastener tape has a plurality of spaced rows of eyefastener elements that can be selectively used with the complementalhook fastener elements, but only one row of eye elements is used at onetime, the other rows being provided for adjustment of the fastener.Therefore some of the rows of the eye fastener elements are idle andexposed when the fastener is in use, and when the fastener is wornbeneath a thin or sheer garment, the idle fastener elements produceunsightly bulges in the garment or are visible through the garment.

Among the objects of the present invention are to provide a fastenertape of this general character embodying novel and improved features ofconstruction whereby idle or unused fastener elements can be easilyconcealed or rendered invisible or inoperative; and to provide such afastener tape wherein the fastener elements can be easily and quicklymanipulated to locate the engaging portions in exposed operativeposition outwardly of the edge of one of the superposed portions orcover strip or to locate the engaging parts entirely between thesuperposed portions of the strip so that said parts are concealed orinvisible, and the possibility of accidental connection of a hook to thewrong eye is practically eliminated.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fastener tape of thischaracter wherein the fastener elements shall be stitched in a novel andimproved manner between the superposed portions of the fastener tape sothat certain of the stitches shall serve as guide ways for sliding ofthe fastener elements into and out of concealed or inoperative positionand at the same time securely hold the fastener elements againstseparation from the fabric strip.

A further object is to provide such a fastener tape wherein the stitchesin conjunction with the inherent resiliency and shape of the fastenerelements shall yieldingly hold the fastener elements in concealed orinvisible position and shall also positively prevent detachment of thefastener elements from the fabric strip.

Other objects, advantages and results of the invention will be broughtout by the following description in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings in which FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a fastener tape embodyingthe invention showing it in connection with one end of a brassiere strapto cooperate with a hook fastener tape at the other end of the brassierestrap and with all of the rows of fastener elements in exposed andoperative position;

FIGURE 2 is a similar view showing the fastener elements of one row inexposed and operative position and the fastener elements of the otherrows concealed;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional View on the planeof the line 3--3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal sectional view on theplane of the line 4-4 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary enlarged plan view of a piece of the fastenertape with portions broken away to show one of the fastener elements inoperative position and the other in concealed or inoperative position;

FIGURE 6 is a view similar to FIGURE 5 showing the invention embodied inanother form of the fastener tape;

FIGURE 7 is a View similar to FIGURE 6 showing a modification of theinvention;

FIGURE 8 is a like view showing one of the fastener elements exposed andalso showing the manner of pushing a fastener element into concealedposition;

FIGURE 9 is a view similar to FIGURE 6 showing another form of theinvention;

FIGURE l0 is a fragmentary enlarged plan view of a piece of fastenertape with portions broken away and showing two of the fastener elementsin operative position and the other in concealed position; and

FIGURE l1 is a similar view of anotherl form of the invention.

Specifically describing the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGURESl through 5, inclusive, the reference character l designates a basestrip of fabric superposed upon and secured to which is an auxiliarystrip 2 which together form the body portion of the fastener tape.Secured on the body portion of the tape are a plurality of rows A, B andC of eye fastener elements that are disposed in spaced apart relationlongitudinally of the body portion. As shown, the fastener elements a ofthe row A are formed of wire and have base parts or loops 3 andarcuately curved engaging parts 4 connected to the base parts by spacedlegs 5 that preferably converge toward each other in the direction ofthe base parts as best shown in FIGURE 5. The fastener elements a aredisposed between the auxiliary strip 2 and one edge 6 of a cover strip7, while the fastener elements b of the row B are disposed between thecover strip 7 and another cover strip 8 and the fastener elements c ofthe row C are located between the cover strip 8 and another cover strip9. The respective edges 6, 10 and 11 of the cover strips are spacedapart longitudinally of the body portion and extend transverselythereof, and the longitudinal edge portions of the cover strips arefirmly secured to the body portion by the inturned marginal zones 3 2 ofthe base strip by lines of stitches 13.

'ihe fastener elements of each row are secured to the fabric strip bylines of stitches 14 that run parallel to the edges of the respectivecover strips and between said edges and the base parts of the fastenerelements, and each line of stitches includes groups of superposed tyingstitches l5 traversing one of the fastener element legs 5 andpenetrating the cover strips and the auxiliary strip 2 as best shown in`FIGURES 3 and 4, the stitches thus being covered by the base strip. Thelines of stitches 14 are spaced from the edges of the correspondingcover strips so that the fastener elements can ybe pushed inwardlybeneath the cover strips as indicated at X in FIGURE 2 and in the lowerportion of FIGURE 5, or the fastener elements can be pulled outwardly soas to locate the engaging parts thereof beyond the edges of thecorresponding cover strips as shown at Y in FIGURE 2 and at the upperportion of FIGURE 5. The position of the fastener elements are alsoshown in FIGURE 4 the uppermost fastener elements being in exposed andoperative position with an engaging portion beyond the edge 6 of thecorresponding v 3 j cover strip, while the fastener elements of theother twO rows are shown in concealed or inoperative positions with theengaging portions entirely beneath the corresponding cover strips.

The invention `also provides for a secure attachment of the fastenerelements to the fabric strip but at the same time permits easy and quickandselectiye movementof the fastener elements into either concealedinoperative positions or exposed operative positions. Also, due to theconverging relation of thelegs of the fastener elements and the firmnessofthe Vsuperposed ltying stitches, the f astener elements will beyieldingly held in exposed positions as shown at the upper portion ofFIGURE 5 or in concealed positions as shown at the lower portion of FIG-AURE 5. When the fastener. elements are in exposed pos1- tion, theinclined legs yieldingly resist pushing of the fastener element intoconcealed inoperative position, while when the fastener elements are inconcealed positions, the arcuately curved engaging portions yieldinglyresist accidentalrnovement of the fastener element into operativeposition. 'l Another form of the tape embodying the invention 1sshowninFIGURE 6 where the fastener elements d are disposed in spacedapart relation longitudinally of `a fabric lrbody portion I6 and a coverstrip portion ,I7 and are secured to said portions by a line of stitchesIS that extends longitudinally of the strip between the edges of thecover'strip 1f'7 and the base loops 3 of the fastener elements withsuperposed tying stitches i9 traversing the legs of the fastenerelements in the same manner as d the tying stitches 1521s hereinabovedescribed. The fastener elements may be manipulated into exposedoperative positions or concealed inoperativerpositions in the samemanner as above described so that selectively anyrdesired fastenerelements can be used in operative position while theother fastenerelements can fbe concealed.

FIGURES 7 through ll show fastener tapes embodying modications of theinvention. Referring particularly to FIGURE 7, the fastener tapeincludes a body portion Zt? Aand a coverportion 2i of fabric 'betweenwhich are disposed fastenerelements e that include base loops`22 and anengaging portion V23 connected to the base loops b y spaced legs 24 thatconverge toward each other in the d1- rection of the-base loops. A lineof stitches Z extends longitudinally of the strip along the edge of thecover portion 21, including sets of superposed stitches 2,6 at each ofopposite sides of each of the fastener elements and other 'stitches 27disposed perpendicular to the edge 'of the cover portion and close tothe base loops of the 'fastener elements, and still other stitches 2S`disposed 1n spaced relation to the edge of thecover portion a distanceabout equalto the length of the fastener elements as best shown at theleft hand side of FIGURE 7. With this construction, the fastenerelements can be pushed ibeneath the cover strip and concealed as shownvat the left hand side of FIGURE 7 or can be pulled out from beneath thecover strip to expose their engaging portions as shown at the right handside of FIGURE 7, in which position Vthe strains on the fastenerelements when ythey are connected to complemental hook elements, areassumed by the superposed stitches 26 that are abutted bythe shouldersof the base loops. Obviously, the fastener elements may ybe pushedbeneath the cover portion as shown at the right hand side of FIGURE 8and may be pulled into exposed position by a thumb and an index finger.

Referring to FIGURE 9, the fastener elements f are the same as thefastener elements e but are mounted on -the strips to swing or pivotrather than to slide in a .straight line as in FIGURE 7. In this form ofthe invention, a line of stitches 29 extends along the edge of the coverstrip 30 and penetrates the body portion 31, certain of .the stitchestraversing the legs Z4 of the fastener elements. Adjacent one leg-andone base loop of each of the Ffastener elements, there is a group oftying or super- Aposed stitches 32 that traverse the Wire of thefastener accanto elements so that the fastener elements may Ibe exposedas shown at the right hand side of FIGURE 9 or maybe swung about thetying stitches 32 into concealed positlon beneath the cover portion asshown at the left hand side of IFIGURE 9.

In FIGURE 10, there is shown a `different form of fastener element gwhich is composed of Wire shaped to form an arcuately curved engagingportion 33, parallel legs 33', and inturned end portions 34 that provideparallel base loops whose sides extend transversely of the strip. A lineof stitches 35 that connects the edge of the cover portion 36 to the`body portion 37 includes offset stitches 38. that run along the outersides of the base loops Vanda group of superposed stitches 39 disposedwithin each, of the |base loops so that the inner ends of the base,loops opposite the engaging portion 33 will `abut the superposedstitches when the engaging portions are pulled into exposed position andthereby take the strains imposed on the fastener elements during use.The fastener elements can be pushed beneath the cover portion and thelegs 33 can slide between the stitches V33 and superposed stitches 39,and the superposed stitches will abut the ends of the engaging portion33 to limit movement of the fastener elements into concealed position.

Still `a diirerent form of fastener element h isshown in FIGURE 11 andcomprises a piece of wire shapedto provide an engaging portion 4t?, andparallel legs ,41 extending therefrom and having outturned portions 42and short inturned endportions 43yproviding base loops with shouldersd3. A line of stitches 4,4 extends along the edge of a cover portion 45of the rstripand includes offset superposed stitches 46. The tyingstitches 46 yoverlie the shoulder end portions 43 and portions of thestitches are disposed within the loops. Thus the outer ends of the tyingstitches 46 adjacent theedge of thercover portion and the inner ends ofthe tying stitchesrgcooperate as abutments for the shoulders 4,3 and theinner ends of the loops, respectively, when the fastener elements are inexposed position, thereby to effectively assumestrains that may beimposed on the fastener elementsV by .complemental hoolr fasteners. Theinner ends of the` tying stitches serve as abutments for the shoulders.43 to limit movement of the fastener elements into concealed positionbeneaththe cover portion as shown at the left hand side of EIG URE 11.

It will be noted that in all forms of the invention, the fastenerelements are positively held against movement longitudinally of the edgeofthe Vcover portion but are free for movement transversely of theedgeofthe cover portion selectively into a position ,to conceal thebaseportions and engaging portions between the body portions and the coverportions of the tape and into poSitions to expose said engagingportions, .and suchmovement is limited in both directions to preventexcessive exposure of the fasteners and ,also to prevent them from beingpushed too far under the coverstrip. In all cases, the fastener elementsarermly held against'being pulled off or awayAfrorn the tape understrains that may be irnposed thereon by complemental hook fastener`elements 4during use of the tape lon garments and the like.

The fastener tapes can be securedto garments in any desired and knownmanner, but for purposes of illustration, the fastener tape shown inFIGURES 1 through 5 inclusive has one end secured as by kzigzagstitchingD Yto one end of an elastic brassiere strap E and the otherend of thetape is bound or finished in any desired manner as by another transverseline of zigzag stitches F which secure the various layers or plies offabric together.

Other modifications or changes in the construction of the tape as wellas other uses of the inventionin other 'forms of fasteners, will occurto those skilled inthe art as within the spirit and scope of theinvention.

I claim:

l. A fastener tape comprising a fabric strip having over-l lappingportions one of which has an edge in superposed relation to the otherportion, at least one fastener element having an engaging portion andhase parts slidable between said overlapping portions, said fastenerelement being formed of wire and having spaced legs connecting said baseparts to said engaging portion, and means including stitches traversingeach leg and penetrating said strip between each base part and said edgeand securing said fastener element on said strip against movementlongitudinally of said edge and against detachment from the strip in alldirections and providing for limited sliding movement of the fastenerelement beneath said stitches and between said overlapping portions ineach or" opposite directions transversely of said edge selectively intoa position to wholly conceal said fastener element between saidoverlapping portions and into a position to expose only said engagingportion outwardly of said edge for engagement with a complementalfastener element, said stitches being abutted by said base parts and bysaid engaging portion upon movement of the fastener element into saidexposed and said concealed positions, respectively.

2. A fastener tape as defined in claim 1 wherein said engaging portionis curved and disposed between and connected to said legs and said legsconverge toward each other in the direction of the base parts providingfor coaction of said stitches, said legs and said engaging portion toyieldably hold the fastener element in said positions.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,833,500 Roseman Nov. 24, 1931 2,759,193 Roseman et al Aug. 21, 19562,759,194 Rosernan et al Aug. 2l, 1956 2,861,276 Alfandre Nov. 25, 1958

